What was Pre-Columbian music like? Currently, we can only imagine its sounds by reading brief descriptions in sixteenth-century texts, complemented with the study of representations of musicians in art, and the ethnographic study of indigenous music.

In this exhibition, we offer another perspective, scarcely explored so far: the study of Pre-Columbian musical instruments. There are many well-preserved instruments, still capable of producing sounds. These include ceramic whistles of various classes, ceramic drums, rattles and bells, plus some instruments made of other materials, such as bone scrapers. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the instruments made from perishable materials, such as the large trumpets that are frequently depicted in Pre-Columbian art. Nevertheless, the extant instruments offer a marvelous idea of the range of sounds that may have been heard in daily life, rituals and feasts by the ancient Maya.

This exhibition includes 49 Pre-Columbian instruments from the collection of the Popol Vuh Museum. These instruments were analyzed by ethnomusicologist Alfonso Arrivillaga Cortés, who is currently preparing a book on the subject, to be published by the Popol Vuh Museum. His research concentrates on the organological characterization of the instruments and their potential for sound production. Research has included recordings of the instruments and ideal reconstructions of their original execution.